Igniting device for oxygen cutting lances



April 7, 1953 J. PENNECOT 2,634,196

IGNITING DEVICE FOR OXYGEN CUTTING LANCES Filed July 24, 1947 JEAN .PENNE OT, BY xzsg, QZJ TTORNEYS.

INVENTORY" Patented Apr. 7, 1953 QIGNITINGHDEVICE FOR OXYGEN CUTTING Jean Pennecot," Singapore, assignorfto LAir Liquide, Socit Anonyme pourlEtude et lExv ploitation' des Procds Georges Claude My invention relates to a device intended for igniting the elongated oxygen cutting lances used, in particular, for the underwater boring and cutting of such materials as metals, concrete,ferroconcrete, rocks. I Such lances are constituted, as is known, by an -iron: ipipe filled- SCIalms. (01. 44-35) "Application July 24, 1947, SeriaiNo. 163,352; In France Augu st 2, 1946 L l I the packing atthe moment of the starting; l The percussion cap A is provided with a-'saw--cutj a which facilitates its resilient fastening on the main body B, while the thimble C is freely placed together on the lance and in the main body.{ A

' hole b is drilled in the latter so that one 'may' with iron wires, and which brings a stream of oxygen unde rpressu re on the article to be bored or cut; the combustion of the tube and wires irif this gas "evolves, in a small volume, aheat suifi'cient to-melt the metal, concrete or rock, and the melted products are blown out by the stream of oxygen. The igniting of the lances has hitherto been effected by heating the end of the pipe placed near the article to be bored While admitting the oxygen, which is a tiresome step, especially in the underwater works, in which case it requires the use of an electrode or of a special lance. I

One object of the invention is to cope with this drawback.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which is to be fastened to the end of a regular pipe and which automatically effects the desired igniting when struck upon the article to be bored or cut.

The above and other objects, and the novel features of the invention, will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure l is a longitudinal section view of one type of device embodying the principles of the invention and placed at the end of a lance, and Figure 2 is a front end elevation view of the same device.

The igniting device or stopper, which is placed at the end of thelance D filled, as is known, with iron wires d, comprises a percussion cap A fastened at the end of a main cylindrical body B which contains: (a) the cartridge E for the impact igniting, which cartridge is axially placed, (2)) the packing F of iron shavings around the latter, and (c) the thimble C, intended for keeping this packing apart from the end of the lance. The base of the cartridge E extends beyond the closed end of the main body and is provided with vent-holes e neighboring the iron shavings. It is preferred that this cartridge, for example comprising an aluminothermic mixture, gives rise neither to a gaseous emission, nor to an explosion. Holes 17, drilled in the side surface of the cylindrical body B, connect the packing room F with the outside, and holes are drilled in the thimble C, so as to allow the oxygen arriving from the lance D to contact relatively slowly thread it with a metallicwire, intended toifasten the igniting stopper to the lance'when they are" carried together. o g l The working of a'lance according tothein vention is as" follows: the oxygen valve iso'pen and the pressure set at about 5 kg./cm. the lance is then struck on its end against the article to be bored at the place itself where the boring must be effected. Owing to the impact, the percussion cap ignites the cartridge which through its vent-holes e transmits the fire to the surrounding packed iron shavings. The stream of I oxygen, checked by the drilled thimble, speeds up the combustion of the iron shavings without blowing them out, and escapes through the side holes I) of the main cylindrical body; a part of the iron oxide resulting from the combustion of the shavings, escapes also through these holes,

, while the other part heats up the thimble C which burns next. This allows the lance to penetrate further into the igniting stopper B, and, the end of the. lance D, contacting the burning iron shavings, kindles under the effect of the stream of oxygen, which is no more checked by the thimble. The started reaction spreads thus to the lance which, from this moment, works in the usual manner.

What I claim is:

1. An igniting device for oxygen cutting and oxygen boring lances, comprising a main cylindrical body closed at one of its ends, in said body an axial igniting cartridge for impact igniting, in said cartridge a fuse and a heat-evolving charge, the base of said cartridge extending slightly beyond said end of the main body, a packing of iron shavings between said cartridge and the inner wall of said main body, vent-holes in said cartridge near theiron shavings, side holes in said main body near the iron shavings, a thimble in the end of said main body opposite the closed end of this body and between the packing of iron shavings and the end of the lance, said thimble being made of combustible material, provided with apertures such as to slowly admit the oxygen stream on the packing, and a striker cap snugly fitted on the closed end of the main cylindrical body.

2. An igniting device for oxygen cutting and oxygen boring lances, comprising a hollow cylindrical apertured body closed at one end and adapted to cap the end of the lance, a percussion ignite'r in said body, a packing of comminuted combustible material pervious to oxygen provided in the hollow body in the region of the apertures of the latter and in contact with said igniter, and meats fdr percussing the igniter consistingjof a striker cap snugly fitted on the closed end of said hollow cylindrical body.

3. An igniting device for oxygen cutting and oxygen boring lances, comprising a lid'llo'w stun drical apertured body closed at one end and adapted to cap the end of the lance, in said body an igniting cartridgev filled with a heat evolving charge and provided with apercussion fuse, a packing of oxidizable metal shavings pervious to oxygen provided in the hollow bod-'y' in contact with said cartridge, and means for on cussing the fuse, consisting of a striker capsnugly fitted on the closed end of said hollow cylindrical body.

i '4; igiiitiflg device ffii oxygen cutting and oxygen boi'ifig l'afics, comprising a l'ilIdW cylin dfical aperture-d body closed at one end and addpfid to cap the end of the lance, an igniting cartridge filled with a heat evolving charge and provided with a percussion fuse, a backing of okl'd'izable metal shavings pervious to oxygen providedi'n the hollow body in the region ofthe apertunes of. the latter and in contact with said cartridge, and means consisting of a striker cap snugly fitted on the closed end of said hollow cylindrical body for percussing said percussion fuse by striking said striker cap against the body to be cut or bored.

5. An igniting device for oxygen cutting and oiiygenboiing" latices, cr'riprisifig a Hollow cylindrical apertured body closed at one end and adapted to cap the end of the lance, an igniting cartridge filled with a heat evolving-charge and iii-fiv'iddw'i-th a percussion fuse. ai-packing of oii-idizable metal shavings pervious to oxygen provided in the hollow body in contact with said cartridge, an apertured thimble for confining saidpacking in said body in the aperturecl region of the latter, and means consisting (if a} sjfilt'i cap snifgly fitted on the closed end of "said hollow cylindrical body for percussing said percussion fuse by striking said striker cap against the body to be out or bored.

Pam cor;

REFERENCES Gi'iiifi The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITE-D STETES FATENT 

2. AN IGNITING DEVICE FOR OXYGEN CUTTING AND OXYGEN BORING LANCES, COMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL APERTURED BODY CLOSED AT ONE END AND ADAPTED TO CAP THE END OF THE LANCE, A PERCUSSION IGNITER IN SAID BODY, A PACKING OF COMMINUTED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL PERVIOUS TO OXYGEN PROVIDED IN THE HOLLOW BODY IN THE REGION OF THE APERTURES OF THE LATTER AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID IGNITER, AND MEANS FOR PERCUSSING THE IGNITER CONSISTING OF A STRIKER CAP SNUGLY FITTED ON THE CLOSED END OF SAID HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BODY. 